Camrose City Council has decided to keep municipal property tax rates at current levels for 2026, though local property owners will still see an increase on their total tax bills due to rising provincial education costs.
During a Committee of the Whole meeting on March 23, 2026, council members directed city administration to move forward with this status quo approach. This decision means that municipal tax changes will be applied evenly across both residential and business properties. This direction builds upon the financial framework established when the council approved the 2025-2026 budget on December 16, 2024.
While the city is maintaining its portion of the tax levy, homeowners and businesses will see their overall bills go up because of a mandatory provincial education tax increase. The Government of Alberta has raised these rates to $2.84 per $1,000 of equalized assessment for residential and farmland properties, and $4.17 per $1,000 for non-residential properties. The city is required by law to collect these funds, and officials noted that they have no authority to change these provincially mandated amounts.
The city’s decision comes at a time of notable growth for the community. Development activity is currently at its highest level since 2012, which has contributed to increased property assessments in the city of 20,801 residents.
The formal 2026 Tax Rate Bylaw will be presented to the council for final approval on April 20, 2026. This council was elected in October 2025 and includes Mayor PJ Stasko along with councillors Lucas Banack, Lana Broker, David R. Francoeur, Agnes Hoveland, DJ Ilg, Joy-Anne Murphy, Don Rosland, and Wayne Throndson.
